Louisiana has three major concerns when it comes to flooding, the rain, the rivers, and the storm surge, and all will come into play this weekend with Tropical Storm Barry, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned Friday.
"We're in our 259th consecutive day of flood fights on the Mississippi River," the governor told CNN's "New Day." "Tomorrow morning we expect Tropical Storm Barry to come ashore in central Louisiana along the central coast. That will be the first time and it will come in as a hurricane. That will be the first time we've actually had a hurricane hit Louisiana while the Mississippi River was at flood stage."
Bel Edwards said that while talking to the Army Corps of Engineers, officials are confident the water will not go over the New Orleans levees.
"That has never been forecast," said Bel Edwards. "The only forecast for overtopping was down in lower Plaquemines Parish. Yesterday, that forecast actually changed. Now we don't expect the Mississippi River levees to be overtopped anywhere. But this is going to be a very, very significant rain event across most of Louisiana."
The governor urged people in his state to pay close attention to the National Weather Service and other news sources, as well as local elected officials, and to heed warnings.
"We've got 3,000 National Guardsmen activated with all of their equipment. We've got more than 300 buses standing by to move individuals to shelters," said Bel Edwards, "and we have opened a megashelter in central Louisiana to take them to safety. We're taking this seriously and I do believe in the power of prayer as well."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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